LOS ANGELES – Tennessee’s Grant Williams received more national considerations Saturday, earning a spot on the Men’s National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Williams, who was on the preseason and late season watch lists, was one of 15 players across the country selected as a potential honoree for the Wooden Award All American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
The reigning SEC Player of the Year has been one of the nation’s most all-around players this season, averaging 19.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
The Charlotte, N.C., native is also shooting 57 percent from the field and an impressive 83 percent from the charity stripe. He ranks in the top 10 of the SEC in scoring (1st), field-goal percentage (2nd), free-throw percentage (3rd), rebounding (5th) and assist/turnover ratio (10th).
So far this year, the junior forward was been tabbed a 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year semifinalist, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award semifinalist, a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year finalist and was selected for the Oscar Robertson Trophy Final Midseason Watch List.
Williams is joined by Kentucky’s P.J. Washington as the only SEC players to make the team.
The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top ten players, and the five finalists for the Wooden Award, which is widely considered the most prestigious honor in college basketball, will be announced following the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament and will be the focus of a 30-minute show on April 3 on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. ET.
